BJP demands CBI probe into chit fund scam in Odisha

Accuses BJD government in Odisha of making contradictory statements to mislead about chit fund scam

 

Accusing BJD government in Odisha of making contradictory statements to mislead all about chit fund scam in which lakhs of poor investors lost crores of rupees, BJP today demanded a CBI probe into the scandal in which some ministers and MLAs are allegedly involved.

"Odisha government is making contradictory statements about investigation being conducted into chit fund scam. It did not hesitate to give wrong information even to the Governor,"

BJP's National Vice-President Jual Oram told reporters here.

While Governor's office was informed in July, 2013 that Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch was probing alleged scam relating to AT Group, on the other hand EOW stated that it was not investigating the case, Oram alleged.

He said a senior official in a letter to Governor's principal secretary in July had stated that EOW was probing cases relating to AT group of companies, Seashore group and other ponzi companies.

However, in an RTI information in August, this year EOW stated that it was not probing any case against AT group, the BJP leader said adding "it shows the government misled the Governor by giving false information."

Charging Naveen Patnaik government with being non-serious in getting chitfund scam properly investigated and protecting poor investors' interest, Oram claimed that the ruling BJD was trying to shield ministers and party MLAs who had patronised ponzi racket.

"Let the state government clarify and present facts about status of inquiry into chitfund scam before the people," he said adding neither the EOW nor Justice Patra commission probing into the scandal have the required manpower and infrastructure to properly investigate the cases.

In view of all these, the state government must recommend a CBI investigation into the ponzi scam and make sincere effort to give justice to lakhs of poor people cheated by unscrupulous chitfund companies, he said.